Ouch!

In my short tenure in the harbor, I’ve never heard a name other than “Governors Island ferry” for the vessel below, but according to this Albany Times-Unionarticle, it’s Coursen, as in Samuel S. Coursen, after a Medal of Honor winner who died in Korea at age 24. Queen Elizabeth rode Coursen, as did Mikhail Gorbachev.

A plan saw Coursen‘s labor complemented by Islander purchased in 2007 for $500,000. In this March 2008 article from the NYTimes, it seemed Islander had a future of carrying up to nearly 800 passengers at once to Governors Island.

Oh what a difference a year brings. As happened to Wall Street and lots of folks “savings”, so has transpired with Islander, sold late February to the winning bidder on EBay for less than $24,000, a paltry ( . . . criminal?) five percent of outlay two years ago. Whose money was lost there?! Am I missing some detail? Is there an argument supporting this turn of events, or has a travesty been wrought with the $476,000? I’m wondering about the quality of the survey Governors Island Preservation & Education Corp did prior to the 2007 sale.

Coursen . . . glad to know your name and namesake, but you’re left on your own.

Meanwhile, if anyone sees Islander dead ship on a tow, take a foto for me.